Table 4.

Physical Examination: Parameters to Evaluate on Physical Examination and the Findings That Indicate a Normal, Healthy Mouse vs Abnormal Findings Indicative of Systemic Disease and Poor Anesthetic Physical Status

Parameters to Evaluate	Normal Findings in Healthy Mice	Abnormal Findings, Indicating Systemic Disease and Poor Physical Status
Overall general appearance	Active, curious, smooth fur coat	Lethargic, hunched, ruffled fur coat
Respiratory function	Breaths not noticeable, no discharge from nares	Tachypnea, deep abdominal breaths, shallow breaths, open mouth breathing or gasping
Mucous membrane or skin coloration	Pink	Pale, blue, or bright red
Hydration	Normal skin turgor	Sunken eyes, piloerection, delated skin turgor test
Body condition scoring (BCS)	2.5–3	Obesity: BCS of 5; thin and in poor condition, with a bony pelvis and spine: BCS < 2